US Peace Team Discusses In Israel Means to Promote 'Century Deal'

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump chat during their meeting at the King David hotel in Jerusalem on May 22, 2017 [Reuters]

The US Administration’s peace team arrived in Israel on Tuesday to participate in the Holocaust Forum and to discuss with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a number of issues, including the date of launching the peace plan known as the “Deal of the Century” and the means to promote it to the people of the region.

The team, which is visiting Tel Aviv for the second time in two weeks, is led by Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s advisor and his son-in-law, US Envoy to the Middle East Avi Berkowitz and the President’s Envoy for Iranian Affairs Brian Hook, in addition to David Friedman, the US ambassador to Israel.

According to Hebrew media, the team will also meet with Israeli Opposition Leader Benny Gantz. Netanyahu will also assess the benefits and harms of launching the plan ahead of the Israeli elections, amid concerns expressed by the right-wing government that its announcement would affect the premier’s chances in the elections.

In parallel, the US Administration is currently studying a proposal to announce the political part of the “Century Deal” before holding the Israeli elections on March 3.

Sources at the White House told Asharq Al-Awsat that Trump and his advisors were now assessing the move and discussing the available choices.

“Nothing is sure at the current stage; the Administration is constantly discussing the importance of achieving peace,” according to the sources.

The sources noted that the political plan would support Israel’s intention to annex settlements in the West Bank and perhaps also settlements in the Jordan Valley, and justifies its annexation as a necessary step to protect the security of Israel.

The rest of the Palestinian lands in the West Bank and Gaza Strip will be classified as “transitional state’s lands” or “New Palestine”, where the Palestinian side will be given some relatively limited administrative powers.